Francis
Goelet, who died in 1998, was a true believer in the development of
new music, Goelet was a longtime friend and supporter of ACO, as well
as other leading music organizations including the Metropolitan
Opera, the New York Philharmonic and New World Records. Over the
years, Goelet underwrote the commissioning and production of more new
American orchestral music and opera than any other individual.

Among the
composers he helped champion are many of this century's most
respected: Aaron Copland, Elliott Carter, Roger Sessions, Toru
Takemitsu, Luciano Berio, George Rochberg, Jacob Druckman, William
Schuman, Ellen Zwilich, David Diamond, Steve Reich, John Zorn and
Richard Danielpour to name a few.

Goelet was a
generous donor to ACO commencing with the orchestra's tenth
anniversary in 1986. His support allowed ACO to commission more than
20 new works by mostly young and emerging composers (listed below)
whose pieces have helped define not only ACO's mission and commitment
to American music, but have richly contributed to the repertoire of
American symphonic music. Since Mr. Goelet's passing, the Estate of
Francis Goelet has continued to support new music and commissions at ACO.

Mostly
recently, the Goelet Estate provided ACO with a leaderhip grant to
support the production of Samuel Barber's Antony
and Cleopatra, performed
by ACO at Carnegie Hall on April 6, 2003.This
is a musical work which Goelet had more than a passing interest in.
The opera was originally commissioned with the support of Francis
Goelet, for the opening of the Metropolitan Opera House in 1966. And
when the premiere performance was widely panned, it was Goelet who
approached Barber a second time with the offer to re-commissioned a
newly revised version of the opera, which was performed at the
Juilliard School in 1975.

Francis Goelet
was a man who understood that great art isn't made overnight, but
that it must be nurtured, encouraged, supported and cherished.

After Mr.
Goelet died, ACO dedicated its September 27, 1998 concert to his
memory. ACO is greatful for the continued support of his estate,
which keeps the living legacy of new American music alive and well.